PPWR: Changes in Packaging from 12 August 2026

The new European Union rules for packaging are entering another phase, and from 12 August 2026, PPWR will begin to affect companies’ day-to-day practice. Although the legislative process is far from over, the first requirements are already influencing packaging management, internal processes, and the division of responsibilities within the supply chain. In this article, we will guide you through the new rules and explain how we can help.

What the PPWR Regulation Brings

The PPWR Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation was created to ensure that Europe generates less packaging waste, supports more recycling, and keeps materials in circulation for as long as possible. In practice, this means companies will need to place greater emphasis on producing and using more efficient packaging, less unnecessary packaging material, and taking clearer responsibility for the packaging in which products are placed on the market.

However, these changes do not bring only an administrative burden. For companies, they can also mean specific and measurable benefits in terms of costs, packaging efficiency, logistics, and overall business operations.

We have been following PPWR for a long time, and we have previously written on our website about why it makes sense to start addressing the new rules in advance. From 12 August 2026, the regulation will begin to have a real impact in practice. And this is only the beginning – additional requirements and follow-up rules will continue to come in gradually over the following years.

Who PPWR Applies To and Who Is Responsible for What

PPWR does not apply only to packaging manufacturers, but to all companies that place packaging or packaged goods on the EU market. This may include material suppliers, packaging manufacturers, importers, and distributors.

The key point is who places the packaging or packaged goods on the market first. For the purposes of PPWR, that entity is considered the producer and bears the main responsibility. This is not automatically the packaging manufacturer. It is often the company that imports or first sells the goods.

Simply put: whoever first places the packaging or packaged goods on sale in a specific EU country usually has to deal with the greatest number of obligations.

Who’s Who Under PPWR?

• Material supplier: supplies the raw material for packaging production, such as paper, film, or granulate. Usually provides mainly technical material data, but does not bear the main packaging responsibility.
  • Example: a paper mill supplies cardboard to a box manufacturer.

• Packaging manufacturer: manufactures the packaging itself, such as a box, bag, or tray. If it places it on the market under its own name or brand, it is also responsible for meeting the requirements for design and appropriate documentation.
  • Example: a company manufactures shipping boxes under its own brand.

• Producer / entity placing packaging on the market: the company that places the packaging or packaged goods on the market for the first time in a given EU country. This entity usually bears the main responsibility, for example for registration, reporting, and fulfilment of packaging obligations.
  • Example: a Czech e-shop packs its goods into boxes and sells them to customers in the Czech Republic.

• Importer: brings packaging or packaged goods from a country outside the EU. If it places them on the market in that country for the first time, it assumes the main obligations.
  • Example: a company imports packaged electronics from a non-EU country and sells them in the Czech Republic.

• Distributor / reseller: further sells finished packaged goods. If it does not change the packaging and is not the first to place it on the market in the country, its role is usually more limited. However, if it repackages, relabels, or sells under its own brand, it may assume the obligations of a manufacturer.
  • Example: a wholesaler resells packaged goods without changing the packaging.

Specific PPWR Changes from 12 August 2026

From 12 August 2026, PPWR will begin to apply in practice. For companies, this means it will no longer be enough just to know that the new rules exist — they will need to monitor whether their packaging actually complies with the requirements.

This will be most visible in the areas of packaging composition, documentation, labelling, and clear allocation of responsibility. Here are the most important changes worth keeping an eye on:

1. PFAS Limit in Food Contact Packaging

From 12 August 2026, packaging intended for food contact may not be placed on the market if it contains PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) at concentrations at or above the specified limits (the specific limits are set by Regulation (EU) 2025/40). In practice, this mainly concerns packaging with grease- and moisture-resistant treatments.

• Typically affected: pizza boxes, fast-food bags, cups, and other paper or composite foodservice packaging.
• What you need to have: written confirmations from suppliers and documents proving the packaging composition — collectively referred to as PPWR technical documentation.

2. Responsibility Must Also Be Reflected in Records and Processes

It is not enough just to know who the producer or importer is, or who places the packaging on the market. The company must translate this responsibility into practice, meaning it must clearly understand which packaging it uses, who handles it internally, and how related obligations are fulfilled.

• What needs to be prepared: an internal overview of packaging, responsible persons, and the countries in which the company places packaging or packaged goods on the market.
• What this may involve: registration, packaging records, reporting, and fulfilment of extended producer responsibility.

3. Pressure for Clearer Packaging Labelling Is Beginning

PPWR is moving toward making it clearer across the EU what packaging is made of and how it should be sorted. For companies, this means the need to have accurate information about the material composition of packaging and to continuously prepare for related labelling requirements.

• What you need to have: an overview of the materials the packaging consists of.
• What to watch out for: make sure the labelling matches the actual composition of the packaging and is not misleading for waste sorting.

4. It Is Not Enough to Rely on Suppliers — The Company Must Be Able to Demonstrate Compliance

In practice, a general assurance that packaging is “fine” will no longer be enough. If a company manufactures packaging, imports it, sells it under its own brand, or places it on the market first, it must be able to actually demonstrate packaging compliance and have supporting documents ready for inspection.

• What you need to have: PPWR technical documentation, related supplier documents, and depending on the specific situation, additional documents needed to demonstrate packaging compliance.
• What to do immediately: review which packaging lacks documentation, has outdated documents, or relies only on general commercial statements without specific parameters.

Checklist: Carry Out a PPWR Packaging Mini-Audit

If you want to make sure everything is prepared in line with the legislative changes from 12 August 2026, go through this checklist:

• Do you have a list of all packaging your company uses or places on the market?
• Have you verified that your food and foodservice packaging complies with PFAS limits?
• Do you have PPWR technical documentation, material composition data, and relevant confirmations from suppliers for your packaging?
• Do you know exactly who in the company bears the main responsibility for packaging and for placing it on the market?
• Do you have packaging records, reporting, and any applicable packaging fees set up correctly?
• Does the packaging labelling correspond to what the packaging is actually made of?
• Do you have an internal overview of which packaging is high-risk and which should be addressed first?

Simply put: from 12 August 2026, it will no longer be enough just to buy packaging and trust that it is fine. A company must know what the packaging contains, who is responsible for it, and how this can be documented.

What This Means for Companies in Practice

Although developments around PPWR are quite dynamic and some parts of the legislation are still being clarified, this period gives companies a good opportunity to see how their packaging, shipping, and packaging management systems are set up. For many businesses, this can be the impulse to create a clearer, more organised, and more meaningful system for packaging that works better not only administratively but also operationally.

Such a review does not necessarily lead only to a lower environmental impact. It can often also bring more efficient solutions, lower costs, and savings in storage space. This was shown in our case study for ROBE lighting s.r.o., where a new packaging solution helped simplify packing and delivered tenfold savings in storage space.

How Can We Help You?

Both within our custom packaging production at Paketo.one and through the Paketo.cz e-shop, we have the necessary PPWR technical documentation ready, which serves as supporting documentation for demonstrating compliance with relevant packaging requirements. This is broader documentation that we prepare individually for each type of packaging so that compliance with the legislation for the given product can be demonstrated.

• In cases where it is required by the specific type of packaging and the role of the entity placing the packaging on the market, the PPWR technical documentation is also followed by an EU declaration of conformity.
• Thanks to our many years of experience in developing more recyclable packaging solutions, we can help companies review their current packaging solutions and identify modifications that are functional, more practical, and better prepared for the further development of requirements.
• For a long time, we have been reducing plastics in our designs and prefer to work directly with corrugated cardboard. It is not only highly recyclable, but also strong and flexible, and our designers can do remarkable things with it.
• We prefer solutions that allow for good recyclability and minimise unnecessary gluing, such as our modular floor stand.

Interested in Our Approach to Packaging Design in Line with Current Legislation?

We naturally apply our existing experience with more recyclable packaging even at a time when PPWR rules are still evolving and companies are rethinking their approach to packaging solutions and display stands. We will be happy to review your current packaging solution with you and propose the necessary revision, modification, or a completely new structural improvement with regard to use, logistics, storage, and future requirements.

Contact us and together we will look at how to simplify your packaging solutions, make them more efficient, and prepare them better for future legislative developments.